Magnetic lid holder for containers



Sept. 4, 1956 o. w. MAHLKE MAGNETIC LID HOLDER FOR CONTAINERS Filed May 2, 1955 Fig. 3

Oscar W. Mah/ke INVENTOR.

United States Patent MAGNETIC LID HOLDER FOR CONTAINERS Oscar W. Mahlke, Washington, D. C.

Application May 2, 1955, Serial No. 505,300

2 Claims. (Cl. 292-251.5)

This invention generally relates to a lid holder and more specifically provides an attachment for containers whereby the lid thereof is retained in closed position by utilizing a magnet for releasably positioning the lids.

Certain types of food are normally supplied in glass or similar containers having a removable metallic lid secured on the open upper end thereof together with a suitable sealing gasket wherein it is necessary to open the container by utilizing a prying instrument to force the depending flange of the lid upwardly for detaching the flange from the projecting rib at the upper end of the container. After the container lid has been detached, the positioning of such lids on the container for retaining the container in closed relation is a rather haphazard arrangement and especially so when the containers are positioned in a refrigerator. It frequently occurs that the container lids are misplaced or displaced during movement of the containers such as when the containers are removed from or placed into the refrigerator for maintaining the food in the container in an unspoiled condition. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a container lid holder wherein the lids are magnetically secured and positioned on the open upper end of a container thereby eliminating the accidental displacement of the container lids.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container lid holder employing substantially a semicircular or semi-cylindrical magnet together with a semicircular or semi-cylindrical attaching clamp or clip for use in conjunction with various types and sizes of containers.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of operation, effectiveness for its particular purpose and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the container lid holder of the present invention in position on the upper end of a container;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construction of Figure 1 with the container lid removed therefrom;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the details of construction of the container lid holder and the positioning of the container lid thereon; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container lid holder of the present invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral generally designates the magnetic lid holder for containers of the present invention which is attached to the upper end of a glass container 12 having a peripheral rib 14 at the open upper end 16 Patented Sept. 4, 1956 ice thereof. A metallic lid 18 having a depending peripheral flange 20 is provided for closing the open end 16 of the container 12 wherein the depending flange 20 normally engages the peripheral rib 14 of the container 12. The container lid 18 is normally employed with a sealing gasket which is removed when the lid 18 is initially removed from the container 12 thereby permitting the lid 18 to be easily positioned on the container 12.

The lid holder 10 includes a generally semi-cylindrical strap member of resilient material which is designated by the numeral 22. The semi-cylindrical strap member 22 is provided with a longitudinal groove 24 in the inner face thereof for engaging and receiving the peripheral rib 14 and the upper end 16 of the container 12. Secured to the inner upper face of the semi-cylindrical strap member 22 is a semi-cylindrical magnet 26 which generally overlies the open upper end 16 of the container 12 and which engages the undersurface of the lid 18 interiorly of the depending flange 20 wherein the depending flange 20 telescopes over the lid holder 10 thereby positioning the lid 18 and preventing lateral displacement thereof. The magnetic attraction between the magnet 26 and the metallic lid 18 will retain the lid 18 in closed relation to the open upper end 16 of the container 12 thereby preventing accidental displacement of the lid 18 during use of the container 12 such as when the container 12 is placed into or removed from a refrigerator.

The semi-cylindrical strap member 22 is constructed of resilient material and engages a major portion of the periphery of the container 12 substantially as illustrated in Figure 2 wherein the holder 10 will be retained in position on the container 12 and other sizes and types of containers may be utilized in conjunction with the holder 10. The strap member 22 may be constructed of any suitable metallic or non-metallic material such as plastic or the like and may be easily conformed to various sizes of containers 12.

It will be understood that the magnet may be constructed of any suitable material and shape. This includes a generally semi-cylindrical magnet of relatively oval shape with the central portion spaced away from the periphery of the container and the ends thereof gripping the same for holding the magnet to the container.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A holder for container lids of metallic construction comprising an arcuate magnet, clip means attached to said magnet for engagement with the open upper end of a container for retaining the lid in closed position on the container, said magnet and clip means being generally semi-circular in shape and extending through an arc exceeding for engaging more than one-half of the periphery of the lid and container, respectively.

2. A holder for retaining metallic container lids in closed position on the open upper end of a container having an outwardly extending peripheral rib defining the open end thereof and said lid having a depending positioning flange thereon, said holder comprising a generally semi-cylindrical member of resilient material frictionally engaging a major portion of the outer periphery of the container adjacent the open end thereof, said member having a longitudinal groove in the inner surface thereof for receiving the peripheral rib at the open end of the container, a semi-cylindrical magnet secured to 4 l the resilient member and generally overlying the open References Cited in the file of this patent end of the container for engaging the undersurface of NI ED TATE FATE the lid with the lip thereof positioned exteriorly of the U T S S NTS magnet thereby preventing lateral displacement of the 2,147,482 Butler 14, 1939 lid, said magnet releasably retaining the lid in closed po- 5 2,672,257 slmmonds 1954 sition on the open end of the container. FOREIGN PATENTS 1,046,488 France July 8, 1953 

